Russia Strikes Continue as Ukrainian Drones Hit Moscow Oil Refinery a Second Time
Ukrainian drones conducted a massive overnight attack on Moscow and surrounding regions, striking a key oil refinery for the second time in days and penetrating multiple layers of Russian air defenses, prompting strong retaliatory statements from the Kremlin as Russia strikes continue to draw responses from both sides.
Massive Ukrainian Drone Attack Hits Moscow Oil Refinery
Ukrainian forces carried out a massive drone attack on Moscow that hit a key oil facility for the second time in just a few days. The drones penetrated three layers of air defenses deployed to shield Russia's capital. The massive Ukrainian attack targeted the Moscow Oil Refinery, one of Russia's largest, and appears to be the largest strike on the capital city since the war began in 2022. [4] Footage from Moscow showed several large explosions and plumes of black smoke. One video shows a drone strike on what appears to be a storage tank, sending its cap soaring up into the sky. [4] The Ukrainian military confirmed the attack early Thursday and said the refinery, located hundreds of miles from the front lines of the war, produces more than 12 million tons of oil annually. Fuel from the facility supports Russia's economy and military logistics. [4] During the night of Wednesday to Thursday, more than one drone reached the area of a refinery complex located southeast of Moscow. The installation had already been targeted two days earlier. [2] Moscow Mayor Sergey Sobyanin said air defenses had shot down more than 190 Ukrainian drones since the start of the day Thursday. [4] Russian state media TASS, citing his data, said the attack marked the largest on the capital city in two years. [4] Sobyanin, in a statement posted to the Telegram messaging platform, said that several drones reached the refinery. "Measures are being taken to mitigate the consequences," he added. [4] Ukraine has attacked the Moscow Oil Refinery multiple times as part of its long-standing campaign against Russian energy facilities. Strikes on the capital have become more common as Kyiv improves its deep-strike capabilities. [4] Ukraine routinely uses long-range drones to hit Russian energy sites, aiming to starve the country of critical oil sales and prevent fuel from reaching Putin's forces on the battlefield. [4] Zelenskyy has referred to this as Ukraine's "long-range sanctions" on Moscow. [4] Kyiv has also carried out drone and missile strikes on Russian ports, airfields, and weapons production facilities. [4]
Civilian Casualties and Airport Disruptions
At least 16 people were injured including two children aged 3 and 10; fires broke out at the Moscow Oil Refinery and fragments from an intercepted drone fell near a shopping center. [2] Russian officials reported intercepting over 190 drones targeting Moscow and claimed to have downed a total of 555 Ukrainian drones across 16 regions including Belgorod, Bryansk and Rostov where at least two civilians were killed. [2] All airports around Moscow suspended operations with Sheremetyevo canceling 30 flights; the strike is described as one of the largest on the Russian capital in two years of war. [2] The consequences of the attack were not limited to the Moscow area. All airports in the capital region were forced to suspend operations temporarily. Sheremetyevo Airport alone canceled 30 flights. [2] Authorities also reported a large number of intercepted drones in other regions. In Bryansk 60 drones were shot down, and another 60 were destroyed in the Rostov region. [2] In the city of Gukovo, located in Rostov, one person lost their life and two others were injured. Another victim was reported in Belgorod, a region bordering Ukraine. [2] The Russian Ministry of Defense reported that its systems managed to intercept 555 Ukrainian fixed-wing drones. According to Russian authorities, they were detected in the regions of Astrakhan, Belgorod, Bryansk, Volgograd, Voronezh, Vladimir, Kaluga, Kursk, Lipetsk, Oryol, Smolensk, Tambov, Tula, Rostov, Ryazan and in the Moscow region. [2]
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov delivers a statement on the Ukrainian drone attacks. — Source: gdelt
Zelenskyy Defends Strike as Just Response to Russian Attacks
Ukrainian President Zelenskyy called the attack "absolutely just" in response to Russian strikes on a historic cathedral in Kyiv, stating "if Ukraine burns, your Moscow will burn as well" and urging Russians to recognize that only Putin is driving the war. [2] Zelenskyy, from Brussels, told journalists that “if Ukraine burns, your Moscow will burn as well,” in reference to the legitimacy of attacks on Russian territory in the face of the sustained offensive on his country. [3] In the same voice message sent to a group of journalists covering Ukrainian news, the Ukrainian president reiterated the proposal made to Vladimir Putin for the immediate establishment of a ceasefire and the start of negotiations to end the conflict. [2] Zelenskyy also stressed that it is necessary for Russian society to experience the consequences of the war driven by Vladimir Putin against Ukraine. [3] The Ukrainian president backed the drone offensive launched against the Moscow region and assured that the operation was a direct response to recent Russian bombings on Ukrainian territory. [5] He considered the offensive "absolutely just" in the face of attacks that, according to him, continue to affect civilian infrastructure in his country. [5] Zelenskyy also returned to raise the need to reach a ceasefire and resume negotiations to end the war. However, he called for greater international pressure on the Kremlin and asked both Europe and the United States to increase their political and military support. [5]
Kremlin Vows Continued Large-Scale Strikes on Ukraine
Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov announced that Moscow will continue regular large-scale group strikes on Ukrainian military targets as ordered by Putin, saying words alone are insufficient and a concrete response is required. [2] Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov conveyed a firm message, announcing that the Russian army will continue to carry out large-scale attacks on targets considered essential for the military capacity of Ukraine. [2] According to the Russian official, the measures announced by the Kremlin represent the implementation of a directive previously formulated by President Vladimir Putin. [2] Lavrov said that Putin's order is already being implemented. The head of Russian diplomacy stated that Moscow will continue to hit targets that it considers important for the functioning of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. [2] "It is no coincidence that the president announced some time ago, after another deception by a terrorist from Kiev, that we will now regularly carry out massive group strikes. On targets whose condition directly affects the combat capability of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. This task was entrusted by the Supreme Commander, our armed forces are fulfilling it and will continue to fulfill it," the minister said. [2] Lavrov maintained that the attack carried out on the Moscow region requires a concrete response and suggested that Russia's reaction will not be limited to public statements. "I think all the right words have been said, but for a long time I have been convinced that words are not enough," the head of Russian diplomacy stressed. [2]
Context of Deep Strikes and Air Defense Breaches
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy told reporters in a WhatsApp chat that despite three layers of air defense systems deployed in Moscow, as previously stated, Ukraine will still reach them. [4] In early May, he said that Russia had relocated a significant number of air defense systems to Moscow from other regions as part of a bid to better protect the city ahead of the May 9 Victory Day parade. [4] Zelenskyy said on Thursday that if Russian President Vladimir Putin "does not want to end this war and chooses to continue it, we will not sit quietly — we will respond. The response must be strong and just." [4] "We certainly do not want Ukraine to be burning because of the enemy," Zelenskyy said. "But if Ukraine is burning, your Moscow will be burning as well." [4] The key is for the Russian people to start feeling that, frankly, only one man is driving this war — Putin — while the people are paying the price for everything, the Ukrainian president told reporters. [4] In tandem with the deep strikes, Kyiv is also prioritizing a mid-range strike campaign targeting Russian positions and logistics up to 200 miles deep. [4] Ukrainian officials and conflict analysts have said these attacks mark the successful start of a new phase of the war. [4]
Mutual Drone and Missile Barrages Reported by Both Sides
On the other side, the Ukrainian Air Force reported that Russia attacked Ukraine on the night from Wednesday to Thursday with seven ballistic missiles and 239 long-range drones. [2] According to Kyiv, air defense managed to neutralize four ballistic missiles and 212 drones in several regions in the north, east and south of the country. [2] Ukrainian military authorities specified that another two ballistic missiles and 26 attack drones hit nine different locations on Ukrainian territory. [2] The Air Force also reported that fragments from intercepted drones and missiles fell at another seven points. [2] The announcement comes at a time when both sides continue to report large-scale attacks and air operations carried out on multiple fronts. [2]
What to watch next: Zelenskyy is participating in the Ramstein group meeting of countries supporting Ukraine militarily and will seek new economic commitments for the purchase of weapons, especially anti-aircraft defense systems to counter Russian ballistic missile attacks, while also planning to address the European Council on advancing Ukraine's EU accession process.
